topic Re: Part D shock! in Community Chat

Part D shock!

781Florist — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 22:02:30 GMT

When I first signed up for Medicare I was very happy to pay a pretty premium rate for my Part B supplement. It has gone up a tad each year, but more or less as expected.

However, I was a little stunned last year when my Part D drug policy went up from $14.30 to $36.00 a month. That is a 146% increase in a single year!!

Today I called them to find out what my premium will be in 2023, because I had read that Parts B and D were likely to go down a modicum.

$66.00 a month!!! Nearly doubling last year's premium! From $14.30 to $66.00 in two calendar years! I know that Open Enrollment begins in 2 days and I have booked an appointment through my senior center to speak with a SHINE (retired senior professionals from various fields of expertise) representative to see if they can help me find a Part D plan that is not run by former loan sharks.

I have noticed on these boards that @gertrudecloset seems to be very knowledge-

able about navigating these shark infested supplement waters. Is this kind of massive

price fluctuation a common occurrence? My premiums for this plan stayed the same for nearly 3 years before suddenly going haywire. (I just this moment remembered they changed their name last year, maybe they were bought by someone new?)

Do I have any hope that there will be a few plans in a far more affordable price range?

All my drugs are Tier 1 and cheap, except for Ozempic which the drug company sends me and is not involved with the insurance.

Thank you to everyone for letting me go off on a rant and vent my anger! I hope that most of you folks aren't getting surprises (shocks!) like this!

Re: Part D shock!

KailaS — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 22:13:03 GMT

I hear your pain. Last year my Part D jumped from $32.00 to $61.70 a month. The $61.70 was on a new plan that gave me better drug prices. (I lost most of my pancreas. Therefore, I do not make much insulin and need to inject massive doses of it.) The big jump for me every year is in my Supplemental Plan. I no longer am shocked and just am happy still to be able to afford my coverage. But it jumps twice a year. (I retired mid- year, so that cost increases twice a year.)

Re: Part D shock!

gidgetgh — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 22:16:53 GMT

My first year on Medicare, my drug plan was like $68 a month, but no deductible. Turned out to be not a good plan for me because the minute I started, they gave me notice that they would only fill my expensive drug for part of that year.

So, for 2022, I went with WellCare for like $12.60 a month, but I think the deductible was $480. But they cover that expensive drug.

I received notice that my drug plan is going down to $11 something next year and the deductible is going up some, to like $520.

Right now, I'm in the Medicare drug donut hole. I won't come out of it this year.

My plan for tomorrow is to go online, input my drug info and make sure this is still going to be a "good" plan for me.

I am positively thrilled with my supplement plan and will never change from that. And I don't know that I would pass underwriting if I changed, but I don't plan to ever change.

Re: Part D shock!

MamaWick — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 22:25:54 GMT

The agent for our Part B supplement has a colleague who looks at our Part D plan every year. He will make recommendations for new Part D if needed.

Re: Part D shock!

Sooner — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 22:27:18 GMT

We have to pay for medical care for everyone who is using medical care now. Forget about anything ever going down in cost for anyone getting a check now. Ain't gonna happen.

Re: Part D shock!

new nickname 4 — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 22:29:49 GMT

Oh my, my premium for Wellcare went down from 10.60 a month to 7.50. So sorry that your's is so high.

Re: Part D shock!

patbz — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 22:32:56 GMT

Our supplemental is BCBS which isn't inexpensive but seems to cover everything DH and I need ( and he needs plenty). We will never change because in our case "we get what we pay for".

Re: Part D shock!

Cookie2025 — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 22:35:59 GMT

@781Florist wrote:
When I first signed up for Medicare I was very happy to pay a pretty premium rate for my Part B supplement. It has gone up a tad each year, but more or less as expected.

However, I was a little stunned last year when my Part D drug policy went up from $14.30 to $36.00 a month. That is a 146% increase in a single year!!

Today I called them to find out what my premium will be in 2023, because I had read that Parts B and D were likely to go down a modicum.
$66.00 a month!!! Nearly doubling last year's premium! From $14.30 to $66.00 in two calendar years! I know that Open Enrollment begins in 2 days and I have booked an appointment through my senior center to speak with a SHINE (retired senior professionals from various fields of expertise) representative to see if they can help me find a Part D plan that is not run by former loan sharks.

I have noticed on these boards that @gertrudecloset seems to be very knowledge-
able about navigating these shark infested supplement waters. Is this kind of massive
price fluctuation a common occurrence? My premiums for this plan stayed the same for nearly 3 years before suddenly going haywire. (I just this moment remembered they changed their name last year, maybe they were bought by someone new?)

Do I have any hope that there will be a few plans in a far more affordable price range?
All my drugs are Tier 1 and cheap, except for Ozempic which the drug company sends me and is not involved with the insurance.

Thank you to everyone for letting me go off on a rant and vent my anger! I hope that most of you folks aren't getting surprises (shocks!) like this!

I would like to know how you got Ozempic free of charge. I tried going thru the drug company site but no luck

Re: Part D shock!

skatting44 — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 22:40:59 GMT

" In November 2021, CMS announced the monthly Medicare Part B premium would rise from $148.50 in 2021 to $170.10 in 2022, a 14.5% ($21.60) increase. "

" This year’s standard premium, which jumped to $170.10 from $148.50 in 2021, was partly based on the potential cost of covering Aduhelm, a drug to treat Alzheimer’s disease. " " The manufacturer has since cut the estimated per-patient annual treatment cost to $28,000, from $56,000. "

Well, I hear that it was decided that Medicare will Not cover the cost of this drug .

Re: Part D shock!

DSD2 — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 22:42:42 GMT

I retired during the pandemic and had to sign up for insurance online. Admittedly, I was lost but the kind people at SHINE were wonderful! It's an excellent idea for you to contact them. They will ask you for all the meds you take and help you find the best plans for where you live, based on your need and budget.

What you described happened to me last year. I was not going to pay that and researched other options. If you have WellCare in your area, you might wish to consider it. Next year I will only be paying $9 dollars a month (with a higher deductible than my previous plan). Only a suggestion as SHINE will likely have the best solution.

I share your frustration and wish you the very best! Please let us know how you make out.

Re: Part D shock!

781Florist — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 22:41:22 GMT

@gidgetgh The donut hole! God bless you. They call it that cute name but it should really be called the Cyanide Cycle because it is so brutal.

Hope this message finds you well and that you spend most of next year well outside that section of coverage.

Re: Part D shock!

gidgetgh — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 22:42:43 GMT

@781Florist wrote:
@gidgetgh The donut hole! God bless you. They call it that cute name but it should really be called the Cyanide Cycle because it is so brutal.
Hope this message finds you well and that you spend most of next year well outside that section of coverage.

@781Florist - thanks, but I'll be in it again next year. Like the swallows returning to San Juan Capistrano, I'll be in the donut hole, LOL.

Re: Part D shock!

Jaspertimes — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 22:54:43 GMT

Can you please tell me your supplement? Mine has gone sky high and I'm looking.

Re: Part D shock!

gidgetgh — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 22:59:12 GMT

@Jaspertimes wrote:
Can you please tell me your supplement? Mine has gone sky high and I'm looking.

@Jaspertimes - my supplement is Plan G with Anthem/Blue Cross.

Re: Part D shock!

Jaspertimes — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 22:59:56 GMT

@gidgetgh wrote:
@Jaspertimes wrote:
Can you please tell me your supplement? Mine has gone sky high and I'm looking.

@Jaspertimes - my supplement is Plan G with Anthem/Blue Cross.

Thank you!

Re: Part D shock!

781Florist — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 23:04:23 GMT

@Cookie2025 Hi! I didn't go through the drug company (Novo Nordisc) website to apply.

My primary care physician (the prescriber) got the hospital pharmacist to contact me and he sent me an application that he filled out all the requisite info on....except for my financial info. I brought very sensitive info (SS#, W2, tax forms etc.) to my doctor's office and they faxed the required stuff to the company. It takes only a couple of days to find out if you are approved. The Dr. office staff let me watch them fax and then shred my sensitive documents. I think you should ask your doctor to help facilitate this.

BTW.... my doctor only responded after I told her I was not spending $465.00 a month for the drug. She needed a plan B! I am so happy, as the Ozempic has brought my A1C

from nearly 10 to 6!! Good luck!

Re: Part D shock!

haddon9 — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 23:07:33 GMT

@781Florist I had something similar happen to me last year. My first year Rx policy was something like $17.00 a month. Then it went to $32.00 a month...last year they wanted to charge over $60.00 a month. I don't get many perscriptions so I felt that this was way too much!

I called my neighbor who is an agent and he got me signed up with a basic plan (that still covers what I need) for only $7.20 a month! I think it's called SilverScript. My Meloxicam was only little more than a dollar and some antibiotics were also very inexpensive.

Re: Part D shock!

Trailrun23 — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 23:10:21 GMT

Two of my meds have now been moved from tier 3 to tier 4 for some unknown reason. I am hoping a generic comes out soon, as they have been promising for a couple of years. The price is $1402 and $1643 per month...with my advantage plan I pay $140 amd $164...am sure it will be even more since they moved them to tier 4. They are already controlled and hard to get. I am ready for sticker shock when I see how much has come out of my account.

Re: Part D shock!

shoekitty — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 23:16:06 GMT

Medicare goes up with age as well. Just like the fed rate there is not much congress can do. Drug prices for seniors should go down a bit hopefully it will help with copay. My WellCare is the same as last year however I know my aarp healthcare will go up. They showed me the increases 4 ears ago when I signed up. I am 74 but didn't use Medicare until I was almost 70 as my husband worked and had insurance. My aarp is a lot but I never had had a copay yet and I have had surgeries, been hospitalized and in ER many times. My daughter has to pay 800@ a month for health insurance for her family. Some of my unretired friends even more. I am grateful when I hear that. I am also blessed and thank the Lord I can pay for it. So many just can't. They just can't, and it is frightening ..

Re: Part D shock!

Trailrun23 — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 23:17:43 GMT

It seems how well a plan works for someone depends upon where you live and what Your health issues require.
DH was on Crestor and did well. BCBS would not pay for it and his dr tried over and over and they still rejected the claim. He switched him to something else and it didn't help at all. Crestor was so expensive. It was rejected because BCBS said "there are other cheaper cholesterol drugs available". The companies need to stay out of the dr/ patient relationship.